Salvador Allende Gossens Biography and Timeline

Election to Senate

Wins election to the Senate and begins a long national parliamentary career.

Role range: 1945-1970

President of Senate

Becomes President of the Senate while remaining a leading Socialist presidential figure.

Role range: 1966-1969

Congressional Confirmation

Is confirmed as President-elect by the full Congress after winning a plurality.

Role range: 1970-1973

Congressional Election of President

Wins confirmation by the full Congress after obtaining a plurality in the popular election.

Role range: 1970-1970

President of Chile

Takes office as President of Chile after congressional confirmation of the election result.

Role range: 1970-1973 – 1970-1973

Presidential Inauguration

Begins his single constitutional term as President of Chile.

Role range: 1970-1973

Presidential Election

Wins a plurality in the presidential election against Jorge Alessandri and Radomiro Tomic.

Role range: 1970-1973

Copper Nationalization

Signs the constitutional reform unanimously approved by Congress to nationalize the major copper mines.

Role range: 1970-1973

Nationalization of Copper

Promulgates the unanimous constitutional amendment nationalizing the large copper mines.

Role range: 1970-1973

Economic Nationalization

Expands state ownership of banks and strategic industries during the Popular Unity government.

Role range: 1970-1973

School Milk Distribution Programme

President Salvador Allende's government expanded a programme to provide milk to children as part of its social welfare agenda. The initiative aimed to address malnutrition and improve child health.

Truck Owners Strike

Forms a military-civilian cabinet while confronting a prolonged national transport strike.

Role range: 1970-1973

National Supply Crisis

Allende's government faced shortages, inflation, and prolonged political confrontation over economic management. Disputes involving transport operators and businesses heightened the national crisis.

Death of Salvador Allende

Dies inside La Moneda during the coup; later official investigations conclude that he took his own life.

Role range: 1970-1973

Military Coup

Remains in La Moneda during the military coup that ends his government.

Role range: 1970-1973